Read To Understand Other People's Beliefs #LeadersAreReaders August 2023

When I was talking to an Anglican church lay leader about the Roman Catholic understanding of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist, he thought I was a Catholic. When I said no, he was surprised because it seemed to him that I was defending the Catholics' position, but in actuality, I was just explaining to him what they believe and how they interpret the Scripture and traditions on this matter.

Another time, I was having a casual-turned-serious conversation with a colleague about Calvinism and the five solas. He sounded very convicted, so I challenged him with some questions, thoughts, and Bible quotes. A few months after that, I heard him say to another colleague of mine that I was a Calvinist. I'm not. Perhaps he heard me say, "If I agree with this and that point, does it mean that I'm a (number) point Calvinist?" To the non-Calvinist, I talk like a Calvinist. To the Calvinists, I defended the Arminian. I'm neither (who says there are only two choices? Who says I have to choose?). Likewise, I argue like an atheist when I talk to a Jehovah's Witness and other cults, for example, when they approach me or my students.

Why do I do this? I do this to those who are confident with their positions (friends) and to those who think they have figured it all out (acquaintances and strangers), not to the weak believers in faith. First, for fun and intellectual joy (some may find it intimidating. Well, I'm sort of). Secondly, to challenge other people's assumptions. Thirdly, examine mine. Fourthly, to apply what I've read. And finally, with the previous one, to understand why they believe what they believe. Sometimes you're wrong or in error, and sometimes you make enemies and/or make them think, but you will always learn new things. One of the ways to equip yourself for this kind of conversation is to read widely in the narrow areas of your interests. Read books that you're curious about, books that you don't agree with, and books that enrich your mind and foster empathy.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #ReadWidely #NarrowInterests #NonConformist #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Signs of The Apostles: Observations on Pentecostalism Old and New (1973, 1976) by Walter J. Chantry

After I read the first four (of eleven) chapters, I realized that Mr. Chantry is a Reformed cessationist. This explains a lot about how he interprets the Scripture. I first heard about 'cessationism' when I listened to Grace To You's Strange Fire Conference 2013. What is cessationism? It is a view that early on in the history of the Church, the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit - such as healing, prophecy, word of knowledge, and tongues - ceased to be practiced. Cessationists typically hold that the miraculous gifts were only given for the Church's founding, between the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost in Acts 2 and the accomplishment of God's purposes in history, which is typically referred to as either the conclusion of the final book of the New Testament or the death of the last apostle. I understand the main arguments for cessationism but I just can't see it clearly from the plain reading of the Scripture, records from Church history, stories from missiology, and personal experiences. I believe the Scripture - the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit - is final and sufficient but this doesn't mean that the saints cannot be used by God to be equipped with the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit for His glory. Misuse of these gifts (which are many today!) cannot invalidate them.

To be fair, most cessationists like this author, believe that while God can and still does perform miracles today, the Holy Spirit no longer uses individuals to perform miraculous signs. Mr. Chantry writes: "The question of our inquiry is not, 'Should God be working miracles today?' It is rather, 'Should men be doing miracles on behalf of God?'" From here he explores the primary purpose of miraculous gifts in the Scripture, namely, to attest to the commission of the spokesman of God. In the New Testament, they are signs of the apostleship. He also argues that since the canon of Scripture is complete, the pursuit of all the charismatic gifts of the apostolic age can only proceed upon the basis of failure to recognize the sufficiency and finality of the Scripture. "The lack of complete confidence in the Bible on the part of neo-pentecostal is to be greatly deplored," he wrote. He then expands his arguments through biblical exposition such as on 1 Corinthians 13, 2 Corinthians 10-13, Psalm 85, and selected quotes from preachers and authors that 'prove' his points. I learned so much from this book and I agree with most of what he said about the misuse and abuse of God's words and gifts among the Pentecostals today. His high view of the Scripture is also recommendable. But at the end of my reading, I was not convinced by his exegesis leaning on this subject and of his cessationist case. God will never cease to show signs and wonders, He is the supernatural God!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #SignsOfTheApostles #Pentecostalism #Cessationism #SpiritualGifts #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (2018 Revised Edition) by Dave Hunt, Sort-of Review

 What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (2018 Revised Edition)
by Dave Hunt

I can't remember clearly when was the first time I was exposed to Calvinism. Come to think about it, perhaps it was through books that I read (seem obvious) or sermons that I heard, or both. For sure I was reading lots of books by avid Calvinists in the past such as C.H. Spurgeon, John Piper, J.I. Packers, R.C. Sproul, and my all-time favorite John MacArthur (a.k.a. JMac). God has used - and continues to do so - their books and teachings to shape my mind and understanding of the Scripture. But I have this against them: the core teachings of Calvinism, especially on soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), are incompatible and inconsistent with Scripture. By core teachings, I'm referring to five points that can be summarized by the acronym TULIP. Having said that, I do believe (for now) that Reformed Theology is the closest to biblical Christianity as compared to other major theological systems. We must keep in mind that all theological persuasions are not perfect. It is the Word of God alone that is inerrant, infallible, and perfect.

I'm friendly to the Calvinists but I'm not one. So, am I an Arminian? No (By the way, Jacob Arminius was a good guy. And the opposite of Calvinism is not only Arminianism. Grow up!). How about a Provisionist? Interesting but not yet fully persuaded. For now, although it is helpful to know where ones stand theologically, I have no affiliation with any label. To say, I'm a Biblicalist is a cliche. But I do want to say that there is no biblical mandate or obligation for us to make the decision. Maybe the best way, for now, is to either ignore the label or settle with one or continue to learn and explore. I choose to be proactive. I've been listening to dozens of debates, podcasts, and talks to wrap my mind on these matters. I would like to encourage you to do the same (except for not being too obsessed). On the topic of Calvinism, I highly recommend the late R.C. Sproul's What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding the Basics book and talk series on Ligoniers Ministry YouTube Channel. R.C. was a good teacher, theologian, and communicator. On the other hand, if you want to read on the topic against Calvinism, then, I highly recommend the late Dave Hunt's What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God. I have other recommendations too but for basics, try these two as your introductions.

I love Dave Hunt. He was the embodiment of "zeal with knowledge" and "logic on fire" on par with Walter Martin. He addresses many topics and wrote numerous books on theology, the church, prophecy, cults, occults, New Age, and other religions and critiques of Catholicism, Islam, and yes, Calvinism, among others. You will either love him or hate him but think you must! In this book, Dave Hunt hopes to show how Calvinism misrepresents God's love, decrees, sovereignty, will, foreknowledge, grace, nature, character, gospel, and, of course, the Scripture. Some things I agree with, some statements I disagree with, and many times I hold my judgment. There are strengths (for example, quoting well-known Calvinism proponents to define their own terms) and weaknesses (for example, the tone of his writings, if you're not familiar with him, seems angry and very critical) as any provocative book would have. If you're a Calvinist, you will be triggered by the chapters on the (other) "horrific" beliefs and practices of John Calvin and his early followers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. And not to mention that of Augustine of Hippo. So, read this book at your own risk!

NOTE: Btw, there are other good (some are better!) non-Calvinist teachers and writers that you should explore too such as David Pawson, Chuck Missler, A.W. Tozer, Adrian Rogers, C.S. Lewis, Michael Heiser, Frank Viola, John Stott, Hwa Yung, etc. Read widely.

To read my other book reviews, CLICK HERE

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #DaveHunt #Calvinism #Reformed #GodsLove #Theology #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Why I Read Book Every Day (and 10 Ways to Increasing your Reading Efficiency) #1Book1Week August 2021

 

Before the pandemic, when I'm busy doing fieldwork, I listen to audiobooks or sermons in the car. I also love to watch educational videos on YouTube at home and listen to podcasts while walking, cycling, or jogging. But with all the technological advancements available today, I still prefer reading books as my primary mode of learning. I guess you can call me 'old fashioned.' Besides my natural thirst for knowledge, I need to read books to be effective in the ministry (as the saying goes, "You can't give what you don't have") and keep me sane in today's world of shallow information. So I read at least 30 minutes to 1 hour every day on various subjects, especially on the Scripture and Christian living.

In his book Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, Brian Tracy shares this excellent calculated insight: "If you read just one hour per day, that will amount to about one book per week. One book per week will amount to about 50 books per year. So 50 books per year will total about 500 books over the next ten years. At the very least, you will need a bigger house just to hold your books". Oh yeah, the power of consistency and small incremental changes! Sikit-sikit lama-lama jadi bukit!

If you are persuaded to read every day too, I recommend you to follow these 10 Ways to Increasing your Reading Efficiency:

1) SELECT YOUR READING MATERIAL CAREFULLY. Don't waste your time on books of little value. Instead, preview what you are considering reading before you start a book. For Christians, your primary and most important book to read and study is the Scripture.

2)  ELIMINATE POOR HABITS. Find a place where you're free from distractions. Get rid of junk foods and avoid contact with electronic gadgets and television if possible. As you try different positions and ways to cultivate your reading habit, identify what works for you and avoid what doesn't.

3)  MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO BROADEN YOUR READING. Don't confine your reading to only one narrow area. I tend to choose Christian literature, but I will vary my reading occasionally to a novel, leadership, motivational, business, science, other religions, etc. My rough ratio is 3-4 Christian books to 1 other title. You don't have to follow my pattern. The point is – broaden your reading.

4) TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE. Read for main ideas. Don't get caught up or spend too much time with insignificant problematic details.

5) ASK THE AUTHOR(s) QUESTIONS AS YOU READ. Be an investigator. Ask: Why? What? When? Where? Who? How? And try to find the author's answers in the pages of the book.

6) Also, ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS AS YOU READ. Test your understanding of the author's points, arguments, and ideas.

7) DON'T READ TOO FAST FOR THE SAKE OF FINISHING THE BOOK. Make sure you really (or try to) understand what you are reading before you go further. Or mark the sentences first and come back to them later. If you still don't understand, then don't finish the book. Time is precious.

8) CONCENTRATE ON WHAT YOU ARE READING. Don't entertain unnecessary distractions; focus on the author's message. Off your smartphone, if you must!

9)  TAP INTO YOUR IMAGINATION. Try to imagine the concepts of ideas described by the author(s). Turn texts into mental images. When the author(s) gives illustrations or parables to amplify their points, 'see' them with your mind's eye. If you can't do it at the beginning, it's okay. This ability requires practice.

10) TAKE NOTES WHILE READING (in my case, I write reviews) or underlines important gems that you get from your reading in the book itself or both. This habit is essential if you want to review them from time to time, and it helps to retain what you read.

#ServeToLead #GrowingLeaders #LeadersAreReaders #CultivateReadingHabit #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #ReadingEfficiency

To read my #1Book1Week book reviews, click the RED LETTERS:

1.  The Heavenly Man (2008) by Brother Yun, CLICK HERE
   
   
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (1950) by Clive Staples Lewis, CLICK HERE
   
   
3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (1955) by Clive Staples Lewis, CLICK HERE
   
   
4. Beyond AD 2000: A Call to Evangelical Faithfulness (1999) by Bishop Hwa Yung, CLICK HERE
   
   
5. What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding The Basics (2016 Edition) by R.C. Sproul, CLICK HERE

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding The Basics (2016 Edition) by R.C. Sproul, Book Review

 

What Is Reformed Theology? Understanding The Basics (2016 Edition)
by R.C. Sproul

One day a group of Muslim students approached me with interest. I was obviously (and intentionally wanted to be seen) reading my Bible at the canteen while waiting for Christian Fellowship to start. The spokesperson said to me that he doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God. After I asked him why and patiently listening to his explanations, I replied, “In that case, I also don’t believe in this ‘Jesus.’ Let me tell you the real Jesus of Alkitab...” So I opened the Bible and planted the seed of the Gospel in their hearts [The rest of the story? Censored. This is Malaysia, remember?]. In the same way, when I heard some people said, “I think the Reformed Theology is wrong,” “This theology is divisive,” “The Reformed people don’t believe in the Holy Spirit...”, etc. and then asked them to explain it, I noticed that they have many misconceptions regarding the basics. I think many things in the world are unworthy to dig deeper or invest our time and energy, but I beseech you to consider learning more about Reformed Theology. At least the basics. And at least if you reject it or speak against it, you’re not doing it out of ignorance. In this book, the late Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939-2017) as if replying to the disagreements, “Let me tell you what Reformed Theology is...” So he opened the Scripture, The Westminster Confession of Faith, and the writings of the Reformers and planted the seed of the grace of God in our hearts.

One of the terms that many Christians are allergic to is THEOLOGY. They look the other way whenever they come across books or events with “theology” as its title. Let me deal with this first before I go through the book review. Theology simply means the study of God (Greek, theo means ‘god,’ and the suffix -logy means ‘the study of’). Informally, when we talking about God, discussing about God, having ideas about God, we engage in theology. Of course, some people are formally and academically called Theologians. But basically, we are all theologians either consciously or unconsciously, good ones or bad ones. I say, be a good one! Don’t fear the term anymore; embrace it. Now, let’s go to what is REFORMED THEOLOGY? R.C. Sproul wittily said, “Reformed Theology is a Theology.” By this, he means it is driven first and foremost by its understanding of the character of God, not just the study of religion. “When we engage in the quest to understand God, it is theology,” he continues, “When our quest is limited to understanding how people react to theology, it is religion.” The centrality and the supremacy of the triune God of the Scripture is the hinge of the Reformed theology. “For this reason, it is often called ‘God-centered’ theology,” said Joel R. Beeke, co-author of Reformed Systematic Theology. Although it is not utterly unique from the other branch of theological systems such as it is systematic (attempts to discern the coherent and unified teachings of the Scripture), catholic (refers to ‘universal’ truths of the Christian faith), and evangelical (part of the Protestant reformation) but has its own distinctiveness. In the two parts of this book, R.C. Sproul slowly made the distinctions:

Part 1: Foundations of the Reformed Theology

a) Centred on God
b) Based on God’s Word alone
c) Committed to Faith Alone
d) Devoted to Jesus Christ (The Prophet, Priest, and King)
e) Structured by Three Covenants

Part 2: Five Points of Reformed Theology

a) Humanity’s Radical Corruption
b) God’s Sovereign Choice
c) Christ’s Purposeful Atonement
d) The Spirit’s Effective Call
e) God’s Preservation of the Saints

When people think of Reformed Theology, the Five Points with the familiar acrostic TULIP always come to mind: T stands for Total Depravity, U stands for Unconditional Election, L stands for Limited Atonement, I stands for Irresistible Grace, and P stands for Perseverance of the Saints. But if you noticed the lists in Part 2, Sproul suggests another way of saying the same points with different wordings to avoid misleading. Of course, the acrostic TULIP is easy to remember. Still, it seems very forceful to insert the meanings that can lead to misunderstanding (like when Reformed is equating to Calvinism. It is a misleading term, in my opinion, because although John Calvin was a principal figure in the development of this theology, he was not the sole originator and contributor). So I really appreciate what Sproul did here. After reading this book, three thoughts came to mind: 1) I praise God for His providence. My group weekly Bible Study on the Book of Isaiah and the series of studies on the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and the Epistle to the Romans that I create for LEGASI.tv have helped me tremendously understand the big picture of the Word of God. So when I read this book, I can connect to a large extend to what Sproul is writing here; 2) I found that there are thoughts that came to my mind when I read the Word of God but couldn’t put it into words are explained effortlessly by Sproul throughout the book. Just wow! and 3) I’m still reluctant to either calling myself a Reformed or not. There are more questions to discover and some interpretations that I’m still skeptical about. There are strengths and weaknesses in every form of a theological system. And, there is no Biblical mandate or obligation to make the decision (although it is helpful to know where one stands theologically). For sure, I’m more REFORMING than I was before reading this book. If it’s good, then Soli Deo Gloria!

Here are some helpful YouTube videos to help me comprehends this book further:

1) Teaching Series on What Is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul at Ligonier Ministries [12 parts], CLICK HERE 

2) Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism [4 hours 18 minutes documentary], CLICK HERE

3) Why I Think Calvinism Is Unbiblical by Mike Winger, CLICK HERE  (Check out Dr. Leighton Flowers’s YouTube Channel Soteriology 101 too for more videos challenging Calvinism teachings. I encourage you to read and watch the other videos and debates by those who have opposing beliefs than you. This is a constructive way to learn and test your beliefs.)

 
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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.